Saturday, November 7, 2015

Lush Lather

Recently, it occurred to me that my dream job would be something like product developer at Lush. Happiness is properly exploring the contents of a busy Lush store, touching and sniffing and testing on the back of my hand whatever catches my eye. Coming away from my last visit, I was newly inspired by the sheer multitude of soaps, gels, jellies, bath bombs, lotions etc. they dream up of and create. What I like about Lush is that their products don't necessarily appeal to the lowest common denominator. They have interesting, different, creative and unexpected concoctions that are permitted to find their own audience. One of my favourite products from Lush are their intensely fragranced, richly foaming shower gels. I've tried many, though currently have five 250g bottles that I alternate to wash my body and hair (spoiler alert: they're all super sweet scents). They range in price from $16.50 to $19.95, presumably due to the differing costs of the raw materials.





Snow Fairy (limited edition)
If you want to capture the scent of a lolly assortment in a shower gel, look no further than Snow Fairy. It's unadulterated sugary goodness. Every time I use it, I feel like I'm bathing in lollies. And yet, despite it being a kid's carnival of pear drops, cotton candy and musk, it's never enters off-putting or offensively sweet territory. There's a playfulness and innocence to it that keeps it fun and irresistible.

Honey I Washed the Kids
This one is thicker in consistency than the other shower gels, almost like a caramel. True to its name, its prevailing scent (and number one ingredient) is honey, but it's malty and biscuity in a way, not a straight up honey that you'd get from the supermarket. It shares the same scent as the Honey I Washed the Kids soap and limited edition Gold Fun. It's made in a "lotus flower and tiger lily infusion" (whatever that is), plus has sweet wild orange and bergamot oils, adding flowers and citrus to the mix. But it's primarily honey and toffee. I find it too densely sweet at times, so best used occasionally, or when the mood strikes. I'm a bit over the scent after getting through two-thirds of the bottle, but I know once I revisit it after a long break, I'll be like, "Where has this been all my life?"

Rose Jam (limited edition)
I don't think I fully appreciated this when I first bought it, but I've been reaching for it regularly of late, and loving it. The scent, like its name suggests, is a super sweet jammy rose. There is a slight tartness to it as well, probably due to the inclusion of cypress leaf infusion and Sicilian lemon oil, but it's not discordant with the overall composition. It's the kind of sweetness that's so potent and enveloping it's almost too much, but there's a complexity and depth with its blend of fruity and floral notes. What I enjoy most about Rose Jam is that they've put in argan, rose and geranium oils to make it extra pampering and luxurious on the skin. It leaves the skin feeling nourished and moisturised, with a lingering scent even after you've left the shower.

Twilight (limited edition)
My favourite Lush shower gel, hands down. SO sad this is limited edition. I wish they'd make it permanent. It's not even one of those limited editions that they regularly bring out at a particular time of year, like Snow Fairy. I originally featured it in my March 2013 Favourites, then later deemed it to be one of few products actually worth having a backup for. I'm about halfway through my only remaining bottle and trying to ration it. What makes it so good? Simply put, the scent. It's an incensey, honeyed lavender with a herbaceous edge. It's warming, spicy, decadently sweet, but also highly aromatic in a way that calms the senses and prepares one for sleep.

Flying Fox
I received this as a birthday gift earlier in the year, and after using it once, was put off by just how potent this stuff is. I'm pretty sure it gave me a massive headache. It shares the same fragrance as the Lust perfume by Lush, which unleashes an atomic cloud of jasmine. Flying Fox is no different. After using it as a shampoo, I could still smell it in my hair a day later. It is so strong (right at the edge of what's acceptable to the human nose, possibly over it) that it is borderline nauseating, but at the same time, that's what makes it special. It's one of those unapologetically dirty, "indolic" jasmines (cat pee is often used as a descriptor), big, brash and polarising. If you love it, there's nothing like it. If you don't, stay far away.

20 comments:

  1. I love LUSH very much!! my bathroom is full of LUSH and I always try to make it smell like a LUSH Shop,which my BF is not really fond of. LOL.

    Twilight is also hands down, my fave LUSH shower gels ever! Too bad they don't bring it back this christmas.. But I am traveling to London next week and LUSH Flagship store at Oxford Street should have them in stock , I will def buy some back ups.. xD

    Have you tried their soap bars? The Yog Nog smells amazing! I wish there was a shower gel version of it. It smells similar to Honey I wash The Kids though ^^

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    1. Hahaha I can imagine boyfriends might not be as big Lush fans as their significant others :p

      I have tried some of their soaps, though most I've tried have had similar scents (mainly like lemon detergent, lol). I'm not the hugest fan of their soaps - they're okay for handwashing (though I don't like the dyed ones), but I prefer Lush products for bath/shower/hair/body/face. I'll try to smell Yog Nog though next time I'm at a Lush store!

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  2. Amazing post, loved reading this! I can't wait to dig some Snow Fairy out now that we're on the christmas count down, it is such a divine smell! I am going to the Lush christmas event at the end of November and I can't wait to pick up some of these that you've mentioned, especially Rose Jam!

    alice x // beautybyalicee

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  3. To be very honest, I cannot with Lush (I usually run away from a store, but my favorite cream puff place is right next to one so I stop breathing and jump into the pastry shop. ^-^;;;).
    Having said all that, I've been always intrigued by "Honey, I washed the kids". Maybe I'll buy it someday. I don't think any shower gel has that much of real honey in it.
    Twilight also sounds very lovely. I hope they bring it back soon! :)

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  4. I've just now actually jumped on the Lush wagon, for some reason I never tried their products! Unfortunately I only have a shower so I'm not able to get/use bath bombs, but I have their Mask of Magnaminty and it's my favorite thing ever!! I really wanna try their Snow Fairy shower gel!

    Kendal // Life With Kendal

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  5. I've tried snow fairy and I'm not really into it as much as the hype but it does have a lovely scent. Also the honey one is my fave but I'd like to try more.

    Jackie | fashionxfairytale |

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  6. I love Lush and love their shower gel. Glad they bring Rose Jam back every Christmas.

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  7. OMG It sounds like I need to try snow fairy and I think I would have loved twilight but that's too bad it was LE! I've yet to try any products from them purchased myself! My brother has given me two shampoo bars to try and they are amazing. I'd never thought of trying bar shampoo! I totally am going to make it a point to check out their store next time I pass!

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    1. I need to try their shampoo bars! Can imagine how convenient they would be for travelling!

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  8. I haven't tried many lush shower gels but I'm really curious about their Snow Fairy shower gel!
    If only I had a lush near me and I would get one this season.
    But I really should try to test more of their shower gels in the future.

    Take care*

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  9. I walked into Lush earlier this week and am minorly obsessed with Rose Jam. I love all things Rose and love that this was a strong rose scent, I'm debating if it's something I need. I like that there is argan oil to help keep skin moisturized, sounds perfect for Winter time!

    Cindy // www.cindyhyue.com

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  10. I would like to try all of them even though you don't seem to be much interested in the Jasmine one! It feels so nice to compare and review, no? Great post:)

    Chaste & Beautiful

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  11. I haven't tried many of Lush's shower gels but I loved So White last Christmas! I'm extremely by the red shower jelly in the same scent called Santa's Belly? A gorgeous apple and neroli/patchouli fragrance. I missed Twilight but I do like the scent of their bath bomb, I just don't take any baths so I can't buy their bath products! I'll definitely have another whiff of Flying Fox because I still have and use the Lush solid perfume! My sister bought a bar of Honey I Washed The Kids and I liked it but right now I think Yog Nog might be my new honey/toffee favourite! Have you taken a whiff of Yog Nog or Reindeer Rock from the Christmas releases? I think they might be limited to soap or bath things though. :/

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    1. *extremely excited by the red shower jelly

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    2. Oh yeah, I think I saw/smelled that in the shop. Didn't get So White last year but probably should have! I just bought like, 4 bath bombs in anticipation of my parents jetting off on a holiday soon, so I'll have the bathtub to myself :) Never smelled Yog Nog or Reindeer Rock but shall endeavour to check those out next time I'm at Lush. I really hope I manage to score some things from their epic 50% off post-Christmas sales ... I was successful a couple of years ago but didn't get anything last year.

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  12. I haven't tried any of Lush's shower gels but I've heard so many good reviews on the limited edition Snow Fairy one! I think I'll pick it up these holidays as I love the smell of candy! :)

    sayyip.blogspot.com.au

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  13. Lush is amazing. I'm obsessed with Snow Fairy - it's my favourite scent from them! Twilight sounds lovely too!
    Laura x FloraLooTwo

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  14. Nice i have never tried their bath products before they look great!

    Kayla
    Sheer Beauty Blog

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  15. I love Snow Fairy :) Rose Jam is definitely on my list to buy this year xx

    Jasmine Talks Beauty

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  16. I absolutely love Honey I Washed The Kids. Not only does it have a gorgeous scent but it also gives the skin a lovely moisturised finished. I do find that I won't use it for a while and then go back to it and fall in love with it all over again haha! Loved this post and absolutely love Lush!! :D

    Much love, xx

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